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A lot of amazing books have come out in 2016. With Marvel revitalizing their line, DC’s Rebirth, to so many independent and creator-owned books dominating the stands, 2016 has certainly been a comic book year to remember.

With that in mind, the staff at TFAW took a look at sales numbers, fan buzz, and our personal favorites of the year to create a list of the 25 best comics of the year. Now we want you, our awesome customers, to vote on this list to decide definitively what the best books of 2016 are.

Voting will take place from Jan 1st through Jan 31st, so head on over to our Facebook page and cast your vote. Let your voices be heard and recognize all these amazing creators and publishers for all their hard work.

Superman Vol. 01 Son of Superman By: Peter J. Tomasi, Doug Mahnke, Patrick Gleason
The New 52 Superman is dead, but hiding among us for years was the original Big Blue. Now, a world without a Superman is in desperate need for Clark to leave the good life on the farm with Lois raising their son. This story simultaneously brings Superman back to formula, but also takes him in a direction he’s never really been before.

Bitch Planet Vol. 2: President Bitch By: Kelly Sue DeConnick, Valentine De Landro, Taki Soma
Powerful and gut-wrenching, Bitch Planet continues to explore themes of patriarchy and non-compliance. A must read for SJWs, feminists, and people who truly appreciate comics as an artistic medium.

Wonder Woman TPB Vol. 01 The Lies By: Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp, Matthew ClarkWonder Woman has been interpreted in many ways over her 75 year existence. Instead of trying to hide this, Greg Rucka’s approach is to embrace this to try and get to the real heart of who Wonder Woman is. Not just a great jumping on point for new readers, but a definitive take on the character that will hold true for years to come.

Black Hammer Vol 1: Secret Origins By: Jeff Lemire, Dean Ormston, Dave StewartBlack Hammer is another in a long line of grand ideas by one of comics brightest stars, Jeff Lemire. This book has a unique take on superheroes and the art by Dean Ormston & Dave Stewart instantly ensnares the reader.

Rough Riders Vol. 1 By: Adam Glass, Pat Oliffe
History in the making! Teddy Roosevelt, Jack Johnson, Annie Oakley, Harry Houdini and Thomas Edison make up an American dream team engaged in an epic shadowy war! Monsters and Mayhem folks!

The Mighty Thor Vol 1: Thunder in Her Veins By: Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman
Marvel is changing things up by casting Dr. Jane Foster as the new Thor. The goddess of thunder shines in this series as she comes to grips with heroism and her own mortality. Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman are the perfect pairing. Also: Loki.

Divinity II By: Matt Kindt, Trevor Hairsine, Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic
After Abram came crashing home in Divinity vol 1. Spending his entire life in the depths of space, Divinity II tells the tale of Myshka. Still beliving in the Communist ideal. She intends to play a very real role in the return of Soviet glory

Old Man Logan Vol 1: Berserker By: Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino
What happens when an older, more gruff version of Wolverine comes to the main Marvel Universe? A whole lot of fighting. He’s on a mission to to prevent a terrible future from happening. Andrea Sorrentino’s art is breathtaking.

Detective Comics Vol. 01 Rise of the Batmen By: James Tynion IV, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez, Al Barrionuevo
Batman is notorious for being a lone wolf (bat?), but he’s always had his family behind him. Now it’s time to take the Bat-Family to the next level. Lead by Batwoman, Batman puts together a team of Red Robin, Orphan (Cassandra Cain), Spoiler, and Clayface to be ready for whatever threat comes Gotham’s way.

March Book 3 By: John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell
The third and final installment in civil rights activist John Lewis’ story in the battle for civil rights in the United States. 1963 was an incredibly turbulent time in America’s history, and John Lewis was not only in the middle of it, but a leader in getting us out of it, long before becoming a congressman. March will remind you there are real heroes in this world.

Paper Girls Vol. 2 By: Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang
Continuing where Vol. 1 left off, the misfit group of paper girls from 1988 find themselves transported to present day. Our main characters are forced to look at who they are, and who they may…or may not become. This superstar team continues to tell one of the craziest sci-fi stories currently on the shelves, while staying focused on the heart of any good story, the characters.

All New Wolverine Vol. 01 Four Sisters By: Tom Taylor, David Lopez, Bengal
With the death of Logan, clone daughter Laura Kinney (X-23) steps up to be Wolverine and the best she is at what she does. This book is bloody, emotional, hilarious, and beautiful. This is one of those unique books that can present adult subjects in a way that people of all ages can understand. Clone or not, All-New Wolverine definitely has soul.

Dept. H Vol. 1: Pressure By: Matt Kindt, Sharlene Kindt
Not your average murder mystery! An in depth(see what I did there) story taking place on a deep sea research station. Family, lies, secrets and creatures make for a spectacular, well-paced adventure.

Steven Universe & Crystal Gems Vol. 01 By: Josceline Fenton, Chrystin Garland, Kat Leyh
They are the Crystal Gems. They always save the day! If you think they can’t. Here is proof that they always find a way!

Monstress Vol. 1 By: Marjorie Liu, Sana Takeda
A fascinating look at an alternate 1900’s Asia where monsters of god-like power are normal. Witness the journey of one teenage girl struggling to survive while trying to tame her own MONSTER.

Black Panther Vol. 01 Nation Under Our Feet By: Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brian Stelfreeze
Wakanda under the microscope. On the brink of civil war, treason and terrorist attacks ensue in T’Challa’s homeland. Witness Black Panther fight to save his country from all fronts.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Vol. 01 By: Kyle Higgins, Jorge Corona, Goni Montes
“It’s Morphin Time!” This fantastic new series starts after the Green with Evil Saga. Takes us through a different path from the show, one that keeps it at the top of my reading every month. Perfect for fans new and old.

Saga Vol. 6 By: Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples
Set three years after the end of Vol. 5, our story opens with Hazel in kindergarten. For a story that’s followed a family on the run through space since issue 1, Vol 6 shows them living a domestic and stationary life for the first time…and it doesn’t go too well for them. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples continue to be a dominating power tag team.

Sheriff Of Babylon Vol. 01 Bang Bang Bang By: Tom King, Mitch Gerads, John Paul Leon
Currently known for his fantastic work on Batman, Tom King and Mitch Gerad’s The Sherriff of Babylon, is a suspenseful crime noir tale set in Bagdad circa 2003. King’s CIA experience in addition to Gerad’s life-like art style gives this series the accolades it deserves.

Beauty Vol. 01 By: Jason Hurley, Jeremy Haun
The first STD that people actually WANT! In this world, The “Beauty”, transforms your body into its most beautiful version. People are literally dying to get it but the public is unaware of the side effects. Detectives Vaughn and Foster are on the case.

Faith Vol. 01 Hollywood & Vine By: Jody Houser, Francis Portela, Jele Kevic-Djurdjevic
Starting off as a side character in Harbinger back in 2014, we were given a full ongoing series of Faith Herbert this year. Written by the wonderful Jody Houser. This is a series meant for Fan-boys/girls, as Faith herself is as much of a geek as we are.

Gotham Academy Vol. 03 Yearbook By: Brenden Fletcher, Moritat, Mingjue Helen Chen
Our favorite students go back after their adventures last year, telling tales before everything went to chaos. Gotham Academy is an all-ages series perfectly suited for those wanting to move to Gotham, but are not old enough to drive there.

Legend of Zelda Legendary Ed GN Vol. 01 Ocarina Time By: Akira Himekawa
Viz does it again. While this is a reprint, if you’ve never read the Manga adaptation of the celebrated N64 game Ocarina of Time, this is a perfect time. Collecting vol 1 and 2, You get the complete tale.

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE BY THE 31ST

Honorable Mentions

2016 had so many amazing titles that it was nearly impossible for us to narrow it down to 25. With that in mind, here are some honorable mentions of books that you should definitely check out. Odds are they made your own personal top 25.

Batman Vol. 1 I Am Gotham By: Tom King, David Finch
Gotham City has two new heroes, Gotham and Gotham Girl. With these super powered saviors doing what Batman can’t, is he really what Gotham City needs anymore?

Dark Knight: A True Batman Story By: Paul Dini, Eduardo Risso
Legendary Batman writer, Paul Dini, was beaten within an inch of his life. This autobiographical tale shows just how these iconic characters like Batman can get us through the darkest of times.

Serenity: No Power in the ‘Verse By: Chris Roberson, Georges Jeanty, Karl Story, Wes Dzioba, Dan Dos Santos
Set after the events of the previous series, Leaves on the Wind, No Power in the ‘Verse continues the tale of our favorite Browncoats

I Am a Hero Omnibus Volume 1 By: Kengo Hazawa
A slightly crazy artist, and one of the few people in Japan that actually owns a gun, is neck deep in the zombie apocalypse.

To celebrate the release of Chuck Palahniuk’s first adult coloring book, BAIT: Off-Color Stories for You to Color, we partnered with Palahniuk for a something pretty unique — the BAIT Coloring Contest.

We received TONS of entrants, and have picked the winners! Thanks to everyone for entering, and a very special thanks to Chuck Palahniuk for partnering with us for this contest.

BAIT Contest Winners:

Third Place Prize: Fight Club 2 Poster signed by Chuck Palahniuk — Jill M., David L., Bre C.

We’ll be shipping out these amazing prizes soon. Thanks again to everyone who created such fantastic pieces of art for this contest. It was a real pleasure seeing those come in this past couple months.

Bonus for People Who Purchase BAIT at TFAW.com

You don’t need to win the contest to get something signed by Chuck Palahniuk! For a limited time while supplies last, we will be including special gilded bookplates that are handsigned by Palahniuk! Order your copy of BAIT as soon as possible to increase the chances that you’ll get one of these special copies.

Official Comic Book Continuation of Fight Club

Ten years after starting Project Mayhem, he lives a mundane life. A kid, a wife. Pills to keep his destiny at bay. But it won’t last long — the wife has seen to that. He’s back where he started, but this go-round he’s got more at stake than his own life. The time has arrived to Rize or Die.

There’s a saying that “It’s better to give than receive.” That’s all well and good, but we’re asking “Why not both?” This season you’ll get to add a little something extra to your collection while you get the geek on your list something for theirs.

TFAW’s Holiday Gift Certificate Promotion

Now through December 22, when you purchase a TFAW Gift Certificate for someone on your list, we’ll give you a bonus Gift Certificate for yourself.

GIVE THEM $40, YOU GET $5GIVE THEM $75, YOU GET $10

That’s pretty much it. We’ll send your special gift certificate to you via email after your purchase is processed in our system, typically the next business day. You get to mark someone off your shopping list, and then you can to get something for yourself — all without having to eat into your holiday budget. Win-Win.

If you’d rather wrap something up, we’ve also created special Holiday Gift Ideas Pages to help you find the perfect present for the geek on your list. If you’re going this route, we recommend that you order by December 14 (and choose USPS 1st Class/Priority Mail) to give your package the best shot at reaching you for December 24.

Now’s the time to stock up on graphic novels and comics, folks! TFAW is giving you a jump on your holiday shopping (or an excuse for you to treat yourself) now through November 13th.

Free U.S. Shipping on Qualifying Orders

All you need to do to get Free U.S. Shipping on your next order is place $35+ of in-stock comics and/or graphic novels in your cart. Then, activate the coupon by visiting the offer page or inputting the SNOWBAT code into the shopping cart and hit the “Apply” button.

That’s it. Boom. Mic drop.

You’ll see a message in your shopping cart if the offer is successfully applied. We don’t do offers like this too often, so if you need a little help making sure everything’s squared away, feel free to use our Live Chat feature or call our customer service team from 9AM-5PM (PST), or drop us an email and we’ll get back to you.

This deal doesn’t come around very often, so be sure to carve out some time today to go through last week’s new releases or browse the TFAW website for the comics and/or graphic novels that will join the rest of your collection.

New York Times bestselling novelist Chuck Palahniuk collaborated with incredible comic book artists to create BAIT: Off-Color Stories for You to Color, a coloring book unlike any that you’ve ever seen.

Palahniuk invites readers to collaborate on this unprecedented hardcover edition: “Maybe between your colors, the artists’ designs, and my stories we can create something that endures. Something worth keeping. Let’s create a well-bound book that can sit on any shelf and be available for a new generation to discover and enjoy.”

To celebrate the release of this ambitious book, we’ve partnered with Palahniuk for a special BAIT Coloring Contest that runs through December 12, 2016.

We want you to take some time to unplug, express your creativity, and share your talents with the world. Visit our contest page to view contest details and learn how to enter.

Extraordinary Prizes Await BAIT Contest Winners

Third Place Prize (Six Winners): Fight Club 2 Poster signed by Chuck Palahniuk.

Second Place (Ten Winners): Severed arm collectible signed by Chuck Palahniuk.

First Place (Three Winners): One of the following (to be determined at random)

These are some amazing prizes, and the folks at TFAW are really jealous of the folks who will end up winning the contest. You all rock, and we can’t wait to see your art!

Bonus for People Who Purchase BAIT at TFAW.com

You don’t need to win the contest to get something signed by Chuck Palahniuk! For a limited time while supplies last, we will be including special gilded bookplates that are handsigned by Palahniuk! Order your copy of BAIT as soon as possible to increase the chances that you’ll get one of these special copies.

Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as teenagers. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead.

The team behind critically acclaimed Young Avengers and Phonogram have taken us on a hell of a ride for the past two years in The Wicked and The Divine, and the series just keeps getting better. We were able to get our hands on a copy of the WicDiv #23, and I’m here to give you the skinny on the issue and lay out the case for why this is the best series on the shelves.

Keiron Gillen’s Writing

The Wicked and The Divine #23 is unique in that it is set up not as a traditional comic, but a one-off issue that reads as an issue of “Pantheon Monthly,” a magazine that has exclusive interviews with some of the series’ principal characters.

I couldn’t think of a better case study to attest to Gillen’s talents as a writer. I’ve been a fan of The Wicked and The Divine from day one, but this issue has really amplified my love of the series. I was reminded of Marvel’s Front Line series of the past decade in that this issue gives us a different perspective of characters like The Morrigan, Baal, Amaterasu, Lucifer, and Woden. I like that the team is experimenting with these one-off issues because they make the reading experience unique.

Diverse Set of Characters

It’s clear that Gillen has put in a lot of effort in charting a course for the series and its characters. With a principal cast of 12 gods and several supporting characters, there’s a lot going on in this series, which has been why WicDiv has been at the top of my reading list for the past two years.

We’re learning more about the characters each month, and The Wicked and The Divine #23 is no exception. One thing that’s struck me for awhile is that the series features one of the most diverse set of characters we’ve seen for awhile. This isn’t a reboot series where a woman or person of color steps into the titular character’s role–LGBTQ and people of color have been represented from the get-go. It’s refreshing that the WicDiv team is actively trying to create a story for everyone.

McKelvie x Wilson = Art That is Out of This World

Writing is only one part of the equation. With comics being a visual storytelling medium, I would argue that art is even more integral to a book’s success. To borrow a baseball term, Jamie McKelvie continues to knock the cover off of the ball–meaning that he isn’t hitting home runs, he’s hitting the art with such ferocity that you can’t help but fall in love in each panel.

As Gillen has a firm grasp of where these characters’ stories are going, McKelvie’s character designs have been fleshed out. Each character has a unique style and attitude. That’s not to say that things are static–the art has continued to evolve with the characters as they have grown in the series, particularly in the case of Persephone. If you haven’t been reading along, I seriously suggest picking up the Wicked and Divine graphic novels so you can immerse yourself in this art.

I’ve also been on board with Matthew Wilson’s colors from day one. Collaboration between artists and colorists (also artists, but differentiated as such for sake of clarity) happen every day. This kind of partnership, however, isn’t the norm–McKelvie’s linework and Wilson’s colors go together like fire and heat, milk and Oreos, or conjoined twins. They belong together.

Mystery & Onions

From the beginning, we’ve known the score: within two years’ time, these characters will die. The premise almost dares you not to read the series. The stakes are high and we never really know who’s going to go next. I was surprised at who was killed first as I really liked that character, which kind of makes Gillen the George R.R. Martin of comics.

We’re always peeling away layers of these characters to find out more details of their motivations, past lives, or the story’s bigger picture. WicDiv represents a type of storytelling that is much more than punch this foe, foil that bad guy’s master plan.

They’re Effing Gods

The other thing that really resonates with me is the idea that The Wicked and The Divine expertly deals with themes of fandom, devotion, and religion–these are, after all, gods. Some people love them, others loathe them. It was really fun to read the “interview” with Woden because he is in the latter camp. He’s a racist mysogonist with an inferiority complex.

I dig the “god” angle of the series a lot.

It’s a Bold Series

Like I said before, this is a bold series with a complex set of characters who are brash, powerful, and coming to terms with their fates. Each issue of The Wicked and The Divine is an opportunity for Gillen and McKelvie to yank the rug out from under us. This has happened several times so far, and WicDiv #23 provides a little perspective on the fallout of those moments.

The team is willing to take this book and its characters to a place where other books from the big two wouldn’t be able to tackle, an that makes this one of the best books on the shelves today.

We’re excited to announce that we are hosting writer Chris Roberson for a special Serenity: No Power in the Verse comic book signing from 6-8PM on October 26th at our Portland Things From Another World comic book shop. We’ve also partnered with the PDX Browncoats and the Oregon Food Bank, and are inviting the community to help us support a great cause.

Food Drive Supports Oregon Food Bank + Gives You a Chance to Win

Beginning October 12, and running through October 26, we’ll be collecting nonperishable food items that will go toward supporting the Oregon Food Bank and the Oregonians who depend on its ongoing efforts.

Beyond the great feeling you’ll get by donating to an awesome cause, we’ll also give you a raffle ticket for each item you bring in from October 12-26. TFAW will be giving away a Serenity Malcolm Reynolds 1:6 Scale Statue (pictured here) valued at $249.99–it’s sure to become the centerpiece for your Firefly/Serenity collection.

Oregon Food Bank’s Most Wanted Foods:

Shelf-stable milk

Foods high in protein – canned meats like tuna, chicken, or salmon, canned or dried beans

Foods high in nutrients – canned fruits and vegetables (preferably with reduced sodium and reduced sugar)

Soups, chilies and stews(preferably with reduced sodium and reduced fat)

100 percent fruit juice(canned, plastic or boxed)

Unsaturated cooking oils

Other nutritious foods(preferably with reduced fat, sodium and sugar)

Chris Roberson will be picking a raffle winner at the Serenity: No Power in the Verse signing on 10/26. Winner does not need to be present to win (though it would be more exciting for everyone if they are).

No Power in the Verse Comic Book Signing

We invite you to join us at the Portland TFAW on Wednesday October 26 as we celebrate the launch of the newest serenity series, Serenity: No Power in the Verse, written by iZombie co-creator and all-around awesome guy, Chris Roberson.

We’ll be kicking off the event with a Q&A with Roberson, followed by the raffle winner announcement and a comic book signing.

About Serenity: No Power in the Verse

The Verse is a complicated and dangerous place, and Mal Reynolds and his outlaw crew aboard the Serenity are experiencing tough times. When tensions rise among the crew, a call for help becomes a welcome interruption: they must track down a missing friend and the answers to the mystery surrounding her disappearance.

The six-issue comic book miniseries is published by Dark Horse comics and written by Chris Roberson (iZombie, Hellboy) with art by Georges Jeanty (Buffy Season Eight), Karl Story (Nightwing, Tom Strong), and Wes Dzioba (Aliens, Star Wars Invasion).

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show started back up this week and it was great to catch up with the gang. The thing is, they never went away. Imagine a world where there was no summer hiatus and no months of anxiously waiting for your favorite S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents to come back. Agents of SHIELD #9 is a testament that these characters never truly went away.

At this particular moment in time, the team is embroiled in Marvel’s Civil War II, which sees longtime teammates on opposite sides of a moral dilemma. You don’t need to concern yourself with the details if you haven’t been following along because this issue is just plain fun. Newbies are welcome.

Enough with the background. Marc Guggenheim wastes no time picking up where the previous issue left off. Fitz finds himself on the wrong end of Elektra’s sai and things look pretty bad. You’d think that she’s the villain, but you’d be wrong. Elektra is (once again) a member of S.H.I.E.L.D., and she’s taken over for Phil Coulson. Ward is back, Daisy is on the outs with the team, Coulson is being hunted by S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Maria Hill, Simmons is in a struggle for her life — things are upside down, and I love it.

If you’re a fan of the television show and you’re not reading this series…you’re missing out, bub. The Agents of SHIELD comic book series is unencumbered by a television budget or film rights to certain Marvel characters — we get a ton of action in each issue, which makes this series well worth the price of admission.

Leaving off, it must be said that whoever put series artist Ario Anindito and color artist Rachelle Rosenberg together should be promoted. They’re a great team who’ve given us one hell of a comic. Order your copy of Agents of SHIELD #9 today!

Editor’s Note: Grant Ward is the worst. Even though I despise him for the whole Hydra thing, I find myself hooked by his role in this issue (no spoilers here, folks) and am interested in seeing how things play out in future issues. Great job Guggenheim!

We had the chance to chat with series writer Erik Mona about his favorite part of writing this series and where he hopes to the story. Read on for insights into the series and see how you can win a copy of Pathfinder Worldscape #1 signed by Mona and series artist Jonathan Lau!

TFAW:You have plenty of awesome Pathfinder comics under your belt–dozens of adventures. Each one leads us on a new journey. What is different about this one?

Erik Mona: Pathfinder comics to date have taken us into dark and deadly dungeons, into the winding streets of treacherous cities, and even into the unknown corners of our heroes’ pasts, but things really jump to the next level with Pathfinder Worldscape, which transports our heroes to an entirely different dimension — the Worldscape. The Worldscape is an ancient trap created by a long-dead wizard to gather the greatest warriors from three worlds — Pathfinder’s Golarion, John Carter’s Barsoom, and Earth, including its remote history during Red Sonja’s Hyborian Age.

In the course of the 6-issue series, the Pathfinder heroes cross swords with the likes of Red Sonja, John Carter of Mars, Tars Tarkas, Tarzan, and the jungle heroes Thun’da and Fantomah, among many others. The character interactions are a huge highlight for me.

Crossing over Pathfinder characters with heroes created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, and Frank Frazetta — artists who inspired the fantasy roleplaying hobby that ultimately inspired Pathfinder itself — definitely counts as new and different!

“I’ve been tinkering with the Pathfinder Worldscape idea for years…”

TFAW:With this huge cast of characters, did you find this story more difficult to manage or does it just come at ease at this point?

Mona: The enormous cast of Pathfinder Worldscape presents some challenges, to be sure. You want to give everybody a chance to shine and do their thing while still having pages left over to tell an actual story. When you’re mashing together multiple properties in a dimension informed by the cultures of three different worlds (and at any time during the history of those worlds), there’s a strong temptation to over-indulge in world-building and wheel spinning about how this or that minor detail works into the overall character of the Worldscape dimension itself.

My background in writing for tabletop RPGs has me thinking about all kinds of details that will never really play into the story. I’ve spent a significant amount of time thinking about the role of bullets in the Worldscape, as an example. While most of the Worldscape’s inhabitants come from eras or lands that fit well with traditional sword & sorcery themes, it’s perfectly likely someone trapped in the Worldscape will encounter a World War II soldier, a pistol-toting hero of America’s high plains, or a musket-wielding, fanatical street-fighter of Revolutionary France. Assuming they appear in the Worldscape with only the ammunition they bring with them, that makes their bullets a very rare and valuable commodity.

I imagined a whole barter economy based around warriors seeking out the appropriate bullets for their chosen weapons, but after spending a considerable amount of time thinking about this, I snapped back to reality and realized that details like this — while perhaps quite interesting, useful, and even necessary to support a Pathfinder RPG campaign set in the Worldscape, probably weren’t going to enter into the comic book story too much.

Happily, I’m fairly certain all that world-building will come into play in Worldscape-oriented Pathfinder RPG products down the line, but right now I’m putting my full effort into the comic book.

TFAW:What exciting lands/places might we see on this adventure?

Mona: The Worldscape itself is as exciting as you can get, with elements literally ripped out of the worlds in conjunction with it.

Frank Frazetta’s jungle hero Thun’da, for example, lives in a place called the “Dawn Land,” a sort of time-lost valley filled with cave men, dinosaurs, amazons, and weird monsters. I always thought it strange that the subtitle of Thun’da’s comic was “King of the Congo,” when so many of his adventures took place in a much more interesting (and, from today’s standards, a much less politically fraught) location.

I’m far more interested in struggles against pterosaurs and shaggy cave men than I am in fights against stereotypically primitive African witch doctors, and during a thorough review of fantasy-oriented stories and characters from the jungle comics of the ’40s and ’50s, Thun’da’s stories stood out as exceptional because of the weird monsters and lost cities.

Naturally, when I started constructing the Worldscape plan, I drew in not just Thun’da and his savage girlfriend Pha, but also the entirety of his Dawn Land refuge, ruined cities and all. The central location of the Worldscape series, the brutal city of Shareen, is in fact drawn from Thun’da’s early adventures.

Beyond that we’ve got misty valleys stuffed with Barsoomian white apes and a cadre of trained killers, another ruined city inhabited by the simian scum of three worlds, and the jungle itself, nominally ruled by the Council of Jungle Kings and their enigmatic and elusive First King, Tarzan of the Apes. Whether traveling by foot, by thoat, or by airship, the lands of the Worldscape promise death and danger at nearly every turn.

“The character I’m enjoying the most and the one who has become weirdly central to the plot of the whole thing is Fantomah.”

TFAW:Was this an idea that you had brewing for a while? How did this all come together?

Mona: I’ve been tinkering with the Pathfinder Worldscape idea for years, since shortly after signing on to Dynamite and becoming more familiar with their roster of amazing licensed characters.

So many of their heroes are based on the same fiction and characters that inspired tabletop gaming back in the early ’70s, and in particular Pathfinder has always been a gaming brand firmly in touch with its “pulp” roots.

Working with characters created by Burroughs, Howard, and Frazetta…it’s just too tempting to try to put it all together and do something cool. Add to that that each issue of Pathfinder Worldscape contains a Pathfinder RPG rules appendix that provides official RPG statistics for these legendary heroes — in some cases heroes people have wanted game adaptations of literally for decades — and I had to try to put something together.

At the time Dynamite had already teamed up many of their modern-day pulp heroes in their Masks comic, and Bill Willingham had just mashed a bunch of them together in a steampunk-inspired series called Legenderry. It seemed obvious to me that crossing over their awesome fantasy characters was the next logical step. In the meantime, Dynamite also launched the Swords of Sorrow series, which teamed up nearly all of their female characters, and Worldscape is the next logical progression.

At a certain point I’d put so much work and thought into how to make it all happen that Dynamite offered me the chance to write the series myself, which is a huge, humbling opportunity!

“Jonathan [Lau] has a fantastic attention to detail and an inventive spirit…”

TFAW:How did the artist, Jonathan Lau, become involved with this epic adventure?

Mona: Jonathan was my favorite of several artists Dynamite suggested for the project. I was familiar with his work on former Pathfinder writer Jim Zub’s Red Sonja and Cub from a few years back, so I was already familiar with his visual sensibility and his strong action compositions.

What I didn’t know at the time was that Jonathan has a fantastic attention to detail and an inventive spirit that fills every nook and cranny of the book with interesting things to look at.

His Tars Tarkas is probably my favorite version of the character I’ve seen in comics to date, and it’s fascinating to see him adapt characters like Thun’da, Fantomah, and the immortal empress Camilla, who haven’t really been in active production since the ’40s or ’50s (barring a limited series or guest appearance here and there).

I’m thrilled to be working with him on the series, and each page I get from him on the earlier issues inspires me to put even crazier characters and scenes into the later issues I’m writing now.

TFAW:With such a large roster of characters, have you found that you favor one more than others?

Mona: I’m honored to work on all of them, especially Red Sonja and John Carter, two titans of fantasy publishing.

Oddly, the character I’m enjoying the most and the one who has become weirdly central to the plot of the whole thing is Fantomah, the beautiful, nigh-omnipotent skull-faced woman introduced by literal madman Fletcher Hanks way back in ’40’s Jungle Comics #2. I’ve been mystified by this character (and by Fletcher Hanks) ever since reading about her in the incomparable “I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets” collection/biography by Paul Karasik from a few years back.

When Dynamite challenged me to add some public domain fantasy heroes to their already impressive roster, I immediately leapt to Fantomah, and I’ve never really looked back. Hanks portrayed Fantomah as this unstoppable force of nature capable of just about anything. Unlike staid jungle heroes of the era, it was never really clear whether Fantomah was a hero or a villain, just that you never wanted to cross her, lest she rip the skin from your flesh, turn you into some crazy plant creature, or dispatch you in whatever weird way Fletcher Hanks could concoct between bottles of whiskey. In Pathfinder RPG terms, she’s basically a god, which opened up another interesting element of philosophy for the series.

Each of the three worlds involved — Earth, Barsoom, and Golarion — have very different relationships with religion, and what it means to be a god. For most of the people of Earth — certainly the more or less modern ones like Thun’da and John Carter, “God” is something to be inferred as a matter of faith.

On Barsoom, religion is a fraud designed to deliver the dying to a valley where they are drained of blood by bizarre plant creatures so that their bloodless corpses can be eaten by a cannibal priesthood of Holy Therns (also, by the way, in Worldscape). Burroughs’ “The Gods of Mars,” the second of his John Carter books, is largely about that religion.

Then you’ve got the Pathfinder world of Golarion, where gods are literally, indisputably present and real and divine. It’s not so much a matter of belief as it is acknowledgement of existing supernatural forces, and that gives me a lot to play with in terms of how my characters interact with the world and their predicament as captives of the Worldscape.

John Carter and the cleric Kyra get a nice juicy conversation about this, but Fantomah plays an important role in this aspect of the story as well, and I’m thrilled to be able to use her!

“I’m still hard at work crafting cool Pathfinder RPG rules appendices for each issue…”

TFAW:Do you have any other projects coming up that we should know about?

Mona: In addition to running Paizo’s day-to-day publishing operations, managing the creative staff, and making diabolical plans for the future of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, most of my focus these days is soundly on Pathfinder Worldscape.

Most of the scripting is out of the way at this point, but I’m still hard at work crafting cool Pathfinder RPG rules appendices for each issue. I just finished official game statistics for Red Sonja, for example, and now I’m noodling around with Tars Tarkas, who will appear in the second issue. After that we’ve got Tarzan, Thun’da, and a whole host of others. How much damage does a radium pistol do? What’s the Strength bonus for a green Martian? I dunno, but I will know soon, and it’s really exciting to map the game designer part of my brain over the story I’ve been composing using my comics writing circuits.

You can keep up with my projects and get some insight into the Pathfinder RPG adaptation process behind Worldscape by checking out my blog at erikmona.com or following me on Twitter @erikmona.

TFAW:What comics are you enjoying right now?

Mona: Oh, man, there are so many! I went in way deep on DC’s New 52 a few years back and am working my way through a longbox of backissues of Snyder’s Batman, which has been fantastic, of course. I’m always keen to follow former Pathfinder comics writer Jim Zub on whatever he’s doing, and I really like what he’s been rolling out with Wayward, as well as his new title Glitterbomb, from Image. I’m highly intrigued by DC’s Young Animal imprint. The first issue of the new Doom Patrol was fantastic, and I can’t wait to break out a copy of Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye. As far as comic titles go, that’s probably the best I’ve heard in a long time!

We want to thank Erik for taking the time out of his busy schedule to chat with us! Make sure to order your copies of Pathfinder Worldscape.

Are you looking forward to Pathfinder Worldscape? Tell us which character you’re looking forward to seeing in the Worldscape in the comments below and you’ll be in the running to get a copy of Pathfinder Worldscape #1 signed by Erik Mona and Jonathan Lau!

Every Wednesday, we pick a few of this week’s new releases that stand out from the crowd for our New Comic Book Day series of blog articles. If you’re looking to join a series or want to know what’s happening in today’s best comics, keep reading!

SPOILER ALERT — We try to keep from posting spoilers, but one may sneak through to our reviews now and again. Read with caution, true believers.

Action Comics #963 kicks off the new “Superman Meets Clark Kent” story arc and picks up with Clark Kent investigating (read: I mean breaking into) a company named Geneticron. When I say Clark, I mean Clark, not Kal-El. No, it’s not Superman pretending to be an ordinary human.

Lex Luthor’s Daily Planet newspaper recently outed Clark Kent as being Superman, but as true as that’s been in the past, at this moment in the DCU, it’s not. In all the confusion one thing for sure, this Clark Kent is not OUR Superman.

Dan Jurgens gives us a well-paced issue with flashbacks that help provide context to the story. This is an exciting issue for any Superman fan, and a wonderful place to jump into the Action Comics series. The story has a very Golden Age feel to it. Patrick Zircher and Arif Prianto both do a great job with the art and colors, and exemplify what we’ve come to expect from DC comics. Great layout, bright colors, and solid linework. [Martin M. at TFAW.com]

Born as a mistake of a powerful vampire known as the Master, Mister Quinlan seeks to destroy the monster that sired him. This gory feud has lasted ages and can be traced back to the ancient Roman Empire.

If you’ve enjoyed The Strain novels, television series, or comic books, you’re going to fall over yourself to learn more about Mister Quinlan in the new five-issue The Strain: Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter miniseries.

The thing is: you don’t have to know anything about The Strain to enjoy this book. Lapham and team lead the reader down a journey of one boy’s birth in blood toward his destiny. It’s a fun and entertaining story in its own right and actually serves as a good entry into this universe — be careful, you will be drawn into this story.

On their own, Salazar, Champagne, and Jackson are tremendously talented in their own right, but together, their art comes together in such a way that you can’t help but take a second look at the book once you finish. My only criticism is that I have to wait another month to see the next installment of The Strain: Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter. This is the best book I’ve read this month. [Josh C. at TFAW.com]

The Suicide Squad is once again on a mission they can’t hope to survive. From the emptiness of space to the frigid waters of the Artic Ocean, Task Force X can’t seem to catch a break. They’re hunting a cosmic artifact and — of course — they aren’t told what it is. When they find out what it is, we see that they were sorely unprepared for it!

The team has gotten out of more dangerous situations than this in the past, but Rob Williams may have just caused Task Force X to go extinct. Suicide Squad #2 also includes a short story that gives us insight into Boomerang’s past. It’s a fun piece by Rob Williams, Ivan Reis, and Marcelo Maiolo.

Things are just starting to rev up, but it’s not too late to join the Suicide Squad! [Martin M. at TFAW.com]

This week brought a strong group of comics. For New Comic Book Day, we continue catch up with The Punisher and Daredevil as a conflict comes to a head, jump into the new Suicide Squad series, continue reading Jeff Lemire’s incredible Black Hammer series, and check out Supergirl’s Rebirth. Remember, these are only a few of this week’s new releases be sure to check the TFAW website to see even more. We’d love to know what you think of these books too!

SPOILER ALERT — We try to keep from posting spoilers, but one may sneak through to our reviews now and again. Read with caution, true believers.

We last left Black Hammer with the whole team meeting up to reminisce their past lives with the hero (and their leader): the amazing Black Hammer.

In this new issue we get to see a glimpse into the background of Gail Gibbons, aka Golden Gail, wherein she was given the gifts of the gods to fight to keep the world safe — or is it a curse? Now Gail, stuck in the body of a nine-year-old, is just trying so hard to get back the powers that she once felt burdened with. We also get to see Walky Talky and The Barbalien trying to get a probe outside the boundaries of the small town that they are trapped in. Also, we get to see a clash with one of their old foes, Doctor Sherlock Frankenstein (best name ever!).

How will this “family” deal with all the troubles of trying to fit into the small town they’re stuck in, and what steps will they take to find their way home? Are they even in their universe, or are they in a pocket dimension? Could this be an elaborate trap by a villain from their past?

All that, plus we still don’t know the full story of Black Hammer’s fate. I’m really looking forward to learning more in the next issue of Black Hammer. [Steve M. at Portland TFAW]

Daredevil Punisher #4 completes the “Seventh Circle” story, and it’s been a great ride. DD and Punisher have worked together in the past, but they’re at odds this time over a gangster named Sergey Antonov. D.A. Matt Murdock is transferring Antonov to Texas so he can get a fair trial, but Frank Castle thinks he needs to be punished for his crimes.

Soule wraps up the Daredevil Punisher miniseries in spectacular form, but I won’t tell you how this one ends, folks. What I will say is that it’s really great seeing how far both Daredevil and Punisher will take things, given their conflicting convictions. [Josh C. at TFAW.com]

For anyone who wants to learn more about Suicide Squad after the wonderfully fun movie, you should definitely grab a copy of Suicide Squad #1! The story starts off with Amanda Waller’s inner monologue discussing why she assembled the Suicide Squad — she believes that bad can do good, and she’s . . . well . . . somewhat right!

The group is sent to retract a cosmic cube in space, and as the group battles motion sickness, Williams provides a flashback of how Deadshot landed right into Amanda Waller’s Task Force X. It’s a great first issue, and I can’t wait to see where this one goes. Pick this issue up before it sells out! [Darcey M. at Universal City Walk TFAW]

Supergirl Rebirth serves as a slingshot for those unfamiliar with Supergirl’s past and her place in the DC Universe. The issue starts with a flashback that establishes a potential threat (or possibly ally).

In the new status quo that is the DC Rebirth, Supergirl only recently crash landed on Earth (like, a few months ago recent), and the D.E.O. is trying to make sure she becomes a hero like her cousin, Kal-El. They’ve assigned full-time handlers Eliza and Jeremiah Danvers to show her the ways of this planet and act as “parents” to her alter ego, Kara Danvers.

I anticipate good things from writer Steve Orlando; we’re already seeing strong elements of a family drama for this series and I’m excited to see how Kara adapts to Earth and comes to understand our ways.

Emanuela Lupacchino and Ray McCarthy are already a good pair, and I’m excited to see how they will continue to come together as a team. Their art is similar to that of Terry and Rachel Dodson, and I couldn’t think of higher praise than that. [Josh C. at TFAW.com]

What did you think of these books? What should we review next week? Let us know below!

Every month, we read hundreds of well-crafted product reviews that our fantastic customers submit. One of the most challenging parts is narrowing the field to three outstanding reviews and awarding $25 gift certificates as part of our monthly Product Review Contest. Join us in congratulating this month’s winners:

Daniel from Miami, FL wrote a quick 4-star review for the She Wolf #1:

The classic horror movie poster was enough for me to pick this up. After reading it I’m gonna have to keep picking it up. It’s too crazy to describe… If you like B-movie horror and dark comedy then this is some sweet reading.

Image has been killing it lately. Be sure to check out other new Image Comics series to discover other great books like She Wolf.

I’m very pleased with my last order, and with this book in particular–the story and artwork were awesome. The service and shipping time was right on time. We will continue with TFAW for a long time. Thank you B. Detherage.

Last but not least, Damien from Culver City, CA offered up these thoughts on the premiere issue of the Gwenpool series:

This series is off to a great start. I enjoyed the introduction of this character in the pages of Howard the Duck and it’s great that she’s got her own book now. Plus, I really like Chris Hastings’ writing style.

Thanks so much to everyone who wrote reviews last month. You’re helping people decide what to get (or what to avoid) next.

Remember, you don’t have to write a novel to win. Product reviews can be short and sweet, or highly detailed — as long as they help other customers, that’s what we’re looking for. So submit your reviews and help your fellow collectors sort out the “HOT” from the “NOT”! Who knows, you may be one of next month’s winners.

HOW TO SUBMIT A PRODUCT REVIEW:
It’s simple! Just visit any product page and look for this:

Click on it and our product review form will appear in a popup. Just fill out the pertinent information and submit your review, and you’re done! We’ll take a look at your review and get it up on the product page soon thereafter!

There’s also a really easy way for you to call up everything you’ve ever ordered from us and review it. Simply log in to your account and go into the Order History Section. Next to each item, you’ll see a “Review it!” link.